The 2010 survey found that there were 1.6 million people (9.0% of people aged 15 years and over) involved in at least one non-playing role in organised sport and physical activity during the 12 months prior to interview in April. About one third (29%) of these people were involved in more than one non-playing role.

There were 643,300 people involved as a coach, instructor or teacher; 526,600 as a committee member or administrator; and 313,000 as a referee or umpire. Men had a higher participation rate than women in each of these roles: 4.3% compared with 3.1% for coach, instructor or teacher; 3.1% compared with 2.9% for committee member or administrator; and 2.3% compared with 1.3% for referee or umpire.

8.5 Persons involved in organised sport and physical activity, By role and sex - 2010

Males

Females

Persons

Total involvements

Participation rate(a)

Total involvements

Participation rate(a)

Total involvements

Participation rate(a)

'000

%

'000

%

'000

%

Playing role

2 097.2

24.4

1 725.7

19.7

3 822.9

22.0

Non-playing roles

Coach, instructor or teacher

370.3

4.3

273.0

3.1

643.3

3.7

Referee or umpire

197.8

2.3

115.1

1.3

313.0

1.8

Committee member or administrator

270.0

3.1

256.5

2.9

526.6

3.0

Scorer or timekeeper

216.8

2.5

264.3

3.0

481.1

2.8

Medical support

58.1

0.7

60.0

0.7

118.2

0.7

Other non-playing role

60.4

0.7

82.8

0.9

143.1

0.8

Total non-playing roles(b)

826.4

9.6

734.6

8.4

1 561.0

9.0

Total involved(c)

2 446.4

28.5

2 068.8

23.7

4 515.2

26.0

(a) The number of persons involved in organised sport and physical activity, expressed as a percentage of the population in the same group.

(b) Components may not add to totals as some persons were involved in more than one non-playing role.

(c) Components may not add to totals as some persons were involved in both playing and non-playing roles.

In 2001, 2004 and 2007 similar surveys were conducted by the ABS. For further information about the differences in the surveys, please refer to the Explanatory Notes in the publication (cat. no. 6285.0). The level of involvement in organised sport and physical activity was 27% in 2001, 2004 and 2007 but fell to 26% in 2010. A comparison of involvement rates over time can be made for the three non-playing role categories of coach, instructor or teach; referee or umpire; and committee member or administrator. There was a decline in the rate of involvement between 2001 and 2010 in the roles of referee or umpire (2.3% to 1.8%) and committee member or administrator (4.0% to 3.0%).